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Educational Service Guidelines for the Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Section 4: Support for Instruction and Learning


Classroom of students wearing various hearing assistive technology devices looking to the front of the class while their teacher writes on chart paper.

Outcome: Students who are deaf/hard of hearing share the same learning opportunities as their hearing peers and benefit from programs that support and provide equal opportunity for an access to instruction.

Supports for instruction and learning include all of the components of the education program that provide the necessary foundation to give students the opportunity to access instruction and to learn. In order for appropriate and effective instructional practices to be implemented, these underlying components must be addressed. The standards of Section Four address the following components:

  • Statement of purpose and policies on the role of language and communication in deaf education programs
  • State oversight
  • Rationale for collaborative programs
  • Placement options
  • Special considerations for children with multiple disabilities and deafblindness
  • Administrative, primary, and support staff responsibilities
  • Workload management
  • Staff development and training
  • Facilities
  • Accountability